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Lepiota: Dark Brown Eyes in the Woods For me, Lepiota are just the most beautiful mushrooms there are, with perhaps the exception of Marasmius plicatulus . And especially the small scaly species, with the velvety plushy caps and the delicate girdles and flocks on the stipe: little beauties! Those big edibles - I leave them for others! by Else C. Vellinga Lepiota magnispora. © Warren Cardimon (CC-BY-NC) (from inaturalist.org, ID 145543016) The coastal woods of central California are a goldmine for Lepiotas , starting with the group of rubrotincta (now Leucoagaricus rubrotinctoides ) after the first rains, and then, the ones that blush or bleed when you touch them, the lilac and purple ones, the little white powdery species, and the nice dark brown eyes in the woods. There are not many names around for all these treasures, just a few, and some old names, waiting to be recovered from long forgotten publications. The ones with a striking dark eye in the centre of the cap, and shaggy, woolly stipes hide behind the name Lepiota clypeolaria in American field guides. However, Lepiota clypeolaria proper is a pale brown species, originally described from Europe, though widespread, and found throughout North America. In California, it might occur further north; it certainly is found in southern Oregon (close to Eugene for instance), and also in the mid-west. A nice picture can be found in the Swiss book ' Fungi of Switzerland vol. 4' (by Breitenbach & Kranzlin, 1995). So what is the local " L. clypeolaria "? Murrill, a mycologist of the New York Botanical Garden at the beginning of the 20th century, came out west in 1911 and traveled from Seattle south to Pasadena; he spent several days in the Bay Area and visited Muir Woods, and the redwoods near La Honda. He collected everything, made short notes on several thousand collections, and sent them back east to be published in subsequent years. He described many new species, one of them being Lepiota magnispora , with the following notes: "With bay eyes and scales. Always about same size and appearance. As expands to plane, eye fades''. His collections are still at the herbarium of the NYBG and in remarkably good condition, despite their old age. Spores and basidia (the cells which produce the spores), and the hairs on the cap are intact, though the sterile cells on the lamella edge have unfortunately faded away. All microscopical characters are exactly the same as in our modern specimens! Now we use this forgotten name again, and we need to change L. clypeolaria in our American guide books accordingly (only Phillips' Mushrooms of North America has it right). Lepiota magnispora is just as widespread as L. clypeolaria , with appearances reported throughout North America, Europe, and Asia (China and Japan). There are subtle differences in coloration between the western American and the European collections - the ones here have that very distinct, contrasting brown eye. But besides the real L. magnispora , there are other local yellow-brown caps, with a more gradual eye, often a bit stained, that are actually more similar in appearance to the European L. magnispora , than to our true brown-eyed ones. These distinctive ones have been found only in our area - I have seen them in several places within a radius of 30 miles around San Francisco. Arora depicts them in his ' Mushrooms Demystified ' as Lepiota clypeolaria form " nabiscodisca ". They share the microscopical characters, especially the very characteristic penguin-shaped spores, with L. magnispora . BUT, they differ significantly in the base sequence of a little stretch of DNA. This particular stretch, called ITS, is widely used to distinguish between fungal species, and to compare collections and species. I still have to see the cookies (I only learned this weekend where the name " nabisco disca" came from), but now the form has become a species with its own name: Lepiota spheniscispora , the Lepiota with the penguin spores ( Editor's note: Spheniscidae is the biological family name for penguins). This new species grows under oaks, but does not shun Eucalyptus groves. It is nice that some species do degrade that messy blue gum duff and debris! So, dark brown eyes in the woods: the western L. magnispora ; diluted brown eyes on a yellow brown background: the local L. spheniscispora . This pattern of a widespread species, with a western American sister species, recurs in other groups: Macrolepiota rachodes (now Chlorophyllum rhacodes ) is found in many places in Europe, and North America, but here in the western states a second species occurs, which has not been found in the wild in Europe; again Arora depicts both. Similarly, Lepiota cristata is everywhere, especially in urban areas, but in the redwood groves and Monterey cypress stands Lepiota castaneidisca is common, but it has gone unnoticed and was lumped together with L. cristata . Murrill initially described this species as well. The most amazing part of this story to me is, that there is so much to discover and marvel at! There is lots to do, and with the threat of vanishing oaklands and redwood forests we'd better hurry, and inventory now! Background reading on the above-mentioned Lepiota species: Arora, D., 1986. Mushrooms Demystified . 2nd Ed. Breitenbach J. & F. Kranzlin, 1995. Fungi of Switzerland. Vo. 4 . Agarics 2nd part. Murrill, W.A., 1912. The Agaricaceae of the Pacific Coast II . Mycologia 4: 231-262. Phillips, R., 1991. Mushrooms of North America . Vellinga, E.C., 2000. Notes on Lepiota and Leucoagaricus . Type studies on Lepiota magnispora , Lepiota barssii , and Agaricus americanus . Mycotaxon 76: 429-438. Vellinga, E.C., 2001. Lepiota clypeolaria, I presume? Mcllvainea 14 (2): 41-45. Vellinga, E.C., 2001. Studies in Lepiota III . Some species from California, U.S.A. Mycotaxon 80: 285-296. Vellinga, E.C., 2001. Studies in Lepiota IV . Lepiota cristata and L. castaneidisca. Mycotaxon 80: 297-306. Else's other pick for most beautiful mushroom, Marasmius plicatulus Editor's note: This article was originally published in 2002, in the Duff newsletter. Some photos have been added for context, and the genus and species names have been updated for educational purposes. Mushrooms covered: Chlorophyllum brunneum Chlorophyllum molybdites (green-spored parasol, green-spored lepiota, the vomiter) Chlorophyllum rhacodes (Shaggy parasol) Lepiota clypeolaria (shield dapperling) Lepiota cristata (stinking dapperling, brown-eyed parasol, stinking parasol) Lepiota magnispora Lepiota spheniscispora (penguin-spored lepiota) Leucoagaricus rubrotinctoides Leucocoprinus cepistipes (onion-stalk parasol) Previous Description All Featured Fungi Next Description

News & Stories / Writings Call for Entries: FFSC Poetry Contest Inspired by a poem by Michael Blumenthal, I thought that it might be fun to have an FFSC Mushroom poetry contest. Larry Payne • March 1, 2000 Cortinarius violaceovolvatus (Tasman, NZ). © Dean Lyons (CC-BY-NC) (inaturalist.org, obs. 347719617) Now, since I haven't approved this with any of the other Ministers (in fact, they're learning about it at this very moment) I can't say whether there will be an official winner, or if anyone will actually win anything. But I can guarantee that all submissions will get published in the next Duff . To put you in the creative spirit, here's a little ditty I came up with. While munching Amanita velosa I thought "My God! What have I done!" I felt awfully sick, Thought I'd die really quick! But no, 'twas an allergic reaction. Sorry. True story. I know you can do better. Send me your poems. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts FFSC Poetry Contest Winners, May 2000 Haikus Celebrating the Secret Life of Fungi Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Mycology & Art News Spring Fungi of the Sierra Nevada, 2014 (Cancelled) Once again, Dennis Desjardin and San Francisco State University will be offering their week-long class at the SFSU Sierra Field Station. Students will be introduced to the different kinds of mushrooms and other large fungi that occur in the spring in the Sierra Nevada. Cortinarius • March 30, 2014 Photo by Brian Perry, hosted on the sierra.sfsu.edu website Updated March 9, 2014: Sorry, this class is cancelled due to dry conditions. Emphasis will be placed on the analysis of macro- and micromorphological features, as well as ecological roles, to aid in the identification of taxa. The daily class routine consists of an 8:00-10:00 am lecture followed by a field trip until approx. 3:00 pm. Transportation on the field trips will be by car pooling. Upon return to the camp, collections will be examined and identified in the laboratory (3:30-6:00 pm) in collaboration with the instructor and a knowledgeable graduate student assistant. All equipment, microscope slides, cover slips and reagents required for accurate determination of specimens will be provided. In the evenings, several lectures and slide shows will be presented, and the laboratory will be open for additional work on collections. If sufficient quantities of edible fungi are collected, they will be prepared for consumption and served to the class by the camp's chef. Class runs June 1-6, 2014. Tuition is $348 with additional costs for room and board. For further information on the class, visit the San Francisco State University website. Spaces are available as of April 12, but don't delay too long. This class always fills up! Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Microscopy of Gilled Mushrooms Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / 2018 December Albion Foray Species List We didn't have much rain, but we found many smaller mushrooms. Katherine (Kitty) Elvin • January 4, 2019 Gomphidius in the Rain. Photo by Jim Austin Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts 2016 March Sierra Report 2016 Alaska Foray Field Report Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

News & Stories / Shrooming at 60 MPH Just last week, Robert and I went to visit his brother in Minnesota. Well, as every shroomer knows, Minnesota is mushroom country. Sally Lyon • October 1, 2011 Birch polypores in Minnesota. Photo by Sally Lyon Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Morgan Yacullo Lead Curator, Ken Norris Center for Natural History Morgan Yacullo is a recent Environmental Studies graduate from UC Santa Cruz, where she spent much of her time crawling along the forest floor, photographing the slimy, minuscule marvels of the natural world. Serving as a Lead Curator at the Ken Norris Center for Natural History, she managed the fungarium, led a course on fungal identification, assisted in Christian Schwarz’s Natural History of Fungi course, led numerous field walks, and spent countless hours behind the microscope. She has participated in fungal surveys across diverse California ecosystems—from burn scars to islands and caves—documenting the remarkable variety of fungal life. Alongside academic work, Morgan is a photographer whose practice explores ecological and social resilience through the lens of decomposition. 2026 Morgan Yacullo 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets

News & Stories / Echo Summit Foray 2025: A Participants Perspective The hunting was heavenly and the fungus was awe-some at the FFSC’s annual foray up at Echo Summit, just west of Lake Tahoe. David and I had the pleasure of joining with our Santa Cruz friends to hunt mushrooms, dine splendidly and enjoy the beauty and majesty of the mountains in the comfort of Echo Summit Lodge Chalet; gosh, there is life after camping! Debbie Viess • November 1, 2005 Hygrophorus hypothejus. Illustration by Debbie Viess Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts From the Perpetrators of the 2025 Echo Summit Foray Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Albion Long Distance Forays Our Albion forays are weekend-long trips to the Mendocino area, where chanterelles, black trumpets, and more can be found. We travel to the Mendocino Coast twice a year to explore this bountiful haven for fungal species: Albion I in December: Early winter brings a wide range of fungi, including edibles such as boletes, matsutake, chanterelles, candy caps and more. Albion II in January: Bounties of black trumpets, hedgehogs and winter chanterelles greet us as we revisit the area during late winter. Tickets for Albion forays usually go on sale 2 or 3 months in advance and often sell out quickly. Check Upcoming Events for the latest status. If you can't make one of these fabulous events, monitor this website and FFSC's Google or Facebook group to find out when the next Albion foray will be held. Please note: You must be a member of FFSC to participate in our Albion forays. Saturday Activities On Saturday we meet at 8:30am to discuss the day's plans, and then we head out to hunt! We usually explore areas like Salt Point on our way up and journey home and mainly around Jackson Demonstration State Forest. Afterwards, we share potluck appetizers and dinner, learn from our Science Officer and occasional special guest speaker. After the potluck, we waddle and gather in the lab area to review and identify our foray findings. We encourage all participants who want to learn more about mushrooms to come and help out with the ID. Lodging Our hub for lodging and the potluck is the Albion Retreat and Learning Center , located just one mile from the seashore, eight miles south of Mendocino, 28 miles from a state forest, and 60 miles from Salt Point in the valley of an old lumber camp on the Albion River. The Albion Field Station is owned and operated by Pacific Union College. It has welcomed students and visitors with its rustic charm since 1947. The campus has a large dining hall with a commercial kitchen that will be available to all participants. We utilize the kitchen for individual meals and our famous Saturday night potluck. The following prices are approximate, based on past Albion Forays (and are thus subject to change for future Albion dates). All ticket options include the Saturday activities, plus your choice of lodging. An Albion cabin for 4 people (~$260 - $400 per cabin) A dorm bed in a shared Albion cabin (~$100 per bed) An RV space at Albion with a hookup (bring your own RV) (~$180 per space) No lodging at Albion; participate in Saturday events only ($40 non-refundable) Check in is on Friday afternoon, and we clean up and check out on Sunday morning. (There are no group activities formally planned on these days. Participants socialize and make plans for hunting in the area.) As with all FFSC events, the prices are determined by facility rental costs, vendor fees, insurance costs, etc. Event staff are all unpaid volunteers. Reservation Info & Policies Expand each FAQ item to see the details. Albion Cabins/beds All cabins have shared rooms. Some cabins are fully handicap accessible, some have bunk beds, and some have beds in a loft. The loft option is best for kids and the more limber. You can specify your preference when you order tickets, and we will do our best to accommodate your preference. Albion RV spaces As the access road is fairly narrow and curvy, and can be icy, this option is best for smaller motor homes. The recommended size is 30' or smaller. The largest to have navigated down the winding narrow road has been 38' but you must be a very good RV driver. Saturday activities only If you prefer to arrange your own accommodations offsite, you may purchase a ticket to participate the Saturday activities. The Saturday ticket is non-refundable . (The ticket covers a share of the group permit, cafeteria rental, etc., which FFSC must pay in advance and the vendors do not give refunds.) Cabin and RV space assignments Cabin, dorm bed, and RV space assignments will be sent out before the event and will be posted on the door at the main office at Albion. The lodging reservations are for Friday night (check-in after 3PM) and Saturday night, with checkout on Sunday before 11AM. Albion Cabins owned by Pacific Union College How to buy tickets When tickets go on sale, FFSC members will see a button or link to buy a ticket (reservation). You'll be able to choose which type of ticket you want (entire cabin, individual bed, RV space, or just the Saturday events). You will be able to add each ticket to your shopping basket before paying. Cancellation policy Saturday-only tickets are non-refundable . Lodging (cabin, bed, RV space) tickets are partially refundable IF you cancel more than 14 days before the start date. The club will refund the price you paid minus the payment processor's service fees (usually 3% - 5% of the price). No refunds for lodging tickets will be issued if you cancel within 10 days before the start date. Alternatively, you are welcome to find another FFSC member to buy your ticket(s) for the full price you paid. Be sure they read the policies before purchasing your ticket, and inform the trip leader of the change. If you have questions about this event before purchasing a ticket, use the Contact FFSC form on this website, or use our Google Group or Facebook group (info available on the Contact FFSC page, too). If you purchase a ticket, our Minister of Long-Distance Forays or an event volunteer will follow up with you to provide any additional details. What to Bring Based on members' experiences with this event, we suggest you include the following gear: Potluck dish & cabin supplies For the cabins and Saturday night potluck, plan to bring the following at a minimum: A dish to share at the Saturday potluck. Review our Potluck Essentials page when planning what to serve. Bedding, pillows, towels, and toiletries for yourself. A dehydrator if you have one - damp mushrooms don’t last very long, so make sure you can enjoy them long after the trip! Alternatively, you can cook your mushrooms and keep them refrigerated in your cabin or the dining area. See Culinary Techniques . Saturday foray gear For the Saturday foray, we recommend you bring: GPS, a walking stick, a loud whistle, and a water bottle Collecting gear (basket, knife, brush, wax and/or paper collection bags) Layers of clothing - weather ranges from mild to wet and cold. Keep your head and feet dry! If you're new to collecting and to mushroom identification, we suggest you read our free FFSC Online Learning pages for basic info and tips. Event Policies & FAQs Albion Field Station Policies STRICT NO PET POLICY : Albion Retreat and Learning center has a "NO PETS POLICY". If you violate this policy, you will be fined $250 and be asked to immediately clean your room/cabin and check out. Service animals are OK (with permission first) in handicap units only (Vanessa 1 or 2). Please make sure you reserve the right type of cabin for your needs. Animals can't be in cars overnight or in food prep areas. Proof of current shots must be provided. Upon registration, please note that you wish to bring a service dog in the comments section at checkout. You may also be required to be answer these questions if you intend to bring a service dog: (1) whether the animal is required because of a disability, and (2) what work the animal is trained to perform. Clean meats in rooms : The Albion Field Station is owned by Pacific Union College, a private college for the Seventh-day Adventist learning community. The organization eats clean meats, and respectfully requests that there be no pork, bacon, crab, shellfish, squid or octopus cooked in the kitchenettes. Alcohol is not allowed on site : Evidence of alcohol containers, corks, corkscrews, etc. - including any in the garbage--is grounds for the FFSC being banned from using this wonderful facility in the future. Masks are still recommended in the buildings. FFSC Long-Distance Foray Policies By registering for and attending this event, you are also agreeing to these policies: Potluck Essentials : You agree that you understand acceptable mushroom species to serve. Personal Responsibility : FFSC is not responsible for any harm caused by potluck dishes or collected mushrooms that are eaten, handled or prepared inappropriately. Participants are responsible for deciding what to eat. Contact Poison Control if an emergency occurs. Collection Ethics & Etiquette : Help us make sure local and state agencies keep allowing us to collect mushrooms! Additional Policies for Long-Distance Forays : You agree you understand the risks, and how long-distance forays are typically operated. Please login as an FFSC member to see additional policies and other information below. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC

News & Stories / Mycology & Art News Relishing Medicinal Mushrooms Part III Part 3 of 3. Chef Zachary Mazi • May 1, 2013 Chanterelle. Photo by Yevgeny Nyden Chanterelle Chanterelle ( Cantharellus spp. ) mushrooms are among the most delicious of mushrooms available in the fall and the spring. In a talk at the 2012 North American Mycological Association annual event, David Arora introduced the audience to the fact that over 50 species of chanterelle mushrooms are harvested commercially in Zimbabwe. This mushroom is eaten and used as medicine worldwide, and has a wide variety of textures and flavors. For us at Food Is Medicine, these morsels are always a treat, especially when used in confections. Cal Stamenov, Chef of Bernardus Lodge in Carmel, CA combined this fragrant mushroom with caramelized white chocolate at the 39th annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair…let your mental taste-buds feast on that! Chanterelles have all eight essential amino acids, are 21% protein when dried, and are a good source of iron and potassium. Because of its high content of both vitamin A and beta-carotene, this mushroom has been indicated for night blindness and eye inflammation in China, as well as a treatment for vitamin A deficiency. It is known to remove radioactivity from the body as well, though this property also holds true for the environment, so be sure of where you are picking your delicacies! In Tanzania, in combination with other mushrooms, Chanterelles are used in a powder prescribed to help combat the ravaging effects of HIV/AIDS with good results. The hot water extracts of this mushroom shows promise against many bacteria as well. Not a bad report card for a mushroom that would be as delicious even without these amazing properties. Oyster Next we turn our attention to the tree mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus , or oyster mushrooms. There is significant research underway to find ways to access a compound in oyster mushrooms that mimics the opioid pathway for pain reduction, without the side effects or addiction associated with these popular pain medications. Oyster mushrooms are a nerve tonic, and some constituents reduce acute neuropathic pain quite effectively. In Finland, an over the counter medicine called Remesan, which is 2/3 dried oyster mushroom, is used internally for easing growing pains in children as well as used externally to get rid of warts and other skin blemishes and keep them away! Water extracts of oyster mushrooms showed significant inhibitory effects on tumor growth, preventing the DNA of tumor cells from repairing and causing cell death. Breast cancer and prostate cancer were inhibited by water extracts of these fungi; and in Robert Roger’s book The Fungal Pharmacy , he reports that in vitro studies of oyster mushrooms showed a 100% inhibition rate of sarcoma 180, a common cancer cell line used in laboratories to perform tests…100%!! (Rogers). Like shiitakes, oyster mushrooms can be used to lower serum cholesterol, acting as a natural statin drug with no contra-indications with alcohol consumption. Rats fed a diet of just 2% oyster mushrooms lost weight and increased the body’s ability to metabolize fats that had previously been stored in the adipose cells. In fact, these mushrooms prevented further adipose cells from forming while minimally part of a normal diet! While these mushrooms are available commercially as a nerve tonic, they are still not available for cholesterol reduction, despite their effectiveness. But you can use them in your kitchen without FDA approval. Morel Though perhaps not consumed in even near the volume of the first four mushrooms, the morel mushroom ( Morchella spp. ) is nevertheless one of the prizes for mushroom lovers. It is widely available commercially, but not nearly as easy to find and collect wild as perhaps the chanterelle. Nutritionally, morels have 17 unique amino acids, magnesium, and accumulate gold (as well as lead: picking morels in mining areas or polluted areas can be very hazardous). There is a mystique to the morel, and essence of the morel earned it many names, some vulgar (star-sore), and some just bizarre (‘molly moochers’ West Virgina), some consistent such as ‘dryland fish’ (Kentucky), and ‘land fish’ by the Mohawk. This mushroom was believed to be the work of the devil in Poland; called star sores, penis, ears, and land fish by various Native American tribes. This is a weird mushroom! Morel mushrooms are quite poisonous when raw, even lethal, containing more dangerous levels of hydrazines like the Agaricus suite. However most, if not all, the toxins are evaporated and removed by cooking through the air; to this end, when cooking larger batches of morels, proper ventilation is recommended. Despite this factor, certain extracts seem to exhibit kidney protective action against pharmaceutical toxicity associated with cisplatin, a cancer chemotherapy agent, and gentamicin, a potent antibiotic. No study has shown these medicines are effective in whole consumed mushrooms however, requiring extraction by methods not used in the kitchen (yet?)(6). Morels contain gastro-irritants when eaten raw, but they act as a digestive system tonic when properly prepared and eaten. They soothe the stomach and intestines with medicines that are sized to be delivered to the appropriate spot in the body, and take much longer to be absorbed. In addition, they contain compounds that act as red blood cell destroyers in their raw form (hemolysins), but these two are also destroyed in cooking, and the prepared mushrooms boost the immune system with polysaccharide actions similar to other fungi. The mushrooms have been used for a long time in Chinese medicine for regulating Qi , as well as decreasing phlegm and shortness of breath, and acute asthma (7). Regardless of the cure or nutrition, this is a case where flavor trumps all, and provides another delicious and healthy reason to get out in the woods in the spring and summer, and to pay attention at the farmer’s market! We hope covering the very basics of these five well-known mushrooms will stimulate the desire to explore medicine in the food you love even further. Amazingly, Food Is Medicine hasn’t come across an edible mushroom described that does not also have elsewhere a description of its medicinal value. Not one! Each specimen has its own strengths and weaknesses, and of course there are mushrooms more potent than others, but not one single mushroom that we eat had zero effect on our mind, body, or soul! It is no wonder we are more enthusiastic than ever about the scientific and clinical data being collected about these mushrooms than ever before… but more than likely, we have not yet realized the full benefits that we will receive worldwide when we choose to adopt these ancient medicines into our diets as a regular food. References 1. Rogers, Robert, RH. “The Fungal Pharmacy: The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms and Lichen of North America.” Norht Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA. 2011 2. Wayne, R.R. PhD; “Growing mushrooms the easy way: Home cultivation with Hydrogen Peroxide.” 2010; Randall R. Wayne. http://www.mycomasters.com/ 3. Agricultural Research magazine, USDA; July 2010, “Researchers study benefits of white button mushrooms.” http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul10/immunity0710.htm 4. Tanis, David; “Not an exotic mushroom, but a satisfying one.” New York Times. January 11th, 2013; City Kitchen. 5. Stamets, Paul; Fungi Perfecti informational website. “Fungi Perfecti Host Defense Supporting Natural Immunity.” 2013; QN Organic. http://www.fungi.com 6. Nitha B, Janardhanan KK; “Aqueous-ethanolic extract of morel mushroom mycelium Morchella esculenta, protects cisplatin and gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in mice.” Food Chem Toxicology 2008 Sep. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18692113 7. Haynold, Bernd. Sourced from Wikicommons. Found on http://healing-mushrooms.net/archives/morchella-esculenta.html August 2008. Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Relishing Medicinal Mushrooms Part I Relishing Medicinal Mushrooms Part II Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Douglas Smith Douglas Smith has been involved in mycology for many years, looking for and photographing mushrooms on several continents. His photographs have been featured in many field guides, journals, and magazines, such as National Geographic. A constant figure in the Bay Area mycology scene, he is an expert in many fungus fairs, and organized forays. 2026 Douglas Smith 2026 Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Talks Buy Tickets The Top Ten Edible and Poisonous Wild Mushrooms Saturday, January 10, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Room 1 DNA Sequencing for the Fungus Federation Sunday, January 11, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Room 1 Top Ten Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms Saturday, January 11, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Room 1 Common Mushrooms of the San Francisco Bay Area Sunday, January 12, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Room 1

News & Stories / Stewardship Special Edition: Summer Dummer Well, as I'm sure you're aware, the final Duff of the 1999 - 2000 SHOULD have come out several months ago. Larry Payne • May 1, 2000 Rubroboletus eastwoodiae (CA. Satan's bolete). © Amanda Arnesson (CC-BY-NC) (from inaturalist.org, obs. 325827547) Members Only Content Login Join FFSC Related Posts Previous Article All News & Stories Next Article

Support Information this Website Collects When you create an account, join FFSC, register for an event, purchase a product, or send us an email, we collect your email address and basic contact information as necessary for the transaction you've requested. Purchases are made through a third-party payment processor (currently PayPal). FFSC does not collect your credit card or other personal financial information. Information this Website Shares The following systems may obtain your necessary contact information when you perform certain tasks: Wix : This website's host, which stores your data PayPal : The payment processor we use when you make a purchase on this website Google and/or other email providers: When you contact us, or we send you important emails The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History : The museum and FFSC jointly plan the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. As such, if you purchase a ticket to or volunteer for the Fair, the museum also has access to the contact information you share as part of that purchase. In addition, when you create an account on this website, you have the option to show or hide certain information with other people who also have accounts on this website. You can also configure your profile privacy in your Account Info and Public Profile . FFSC Privacy Policy FFSC respects your privacy. We don't sell your personal data to other parties.